General News
ICO: The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued a warning to the financial sector after a mix-up over the administration of 2 customers’ accounts led to tens of thousands of pounds, meant for an individual’s retirement fund, ending up in the wrong account. This is the first monetary penalty served by the ICO that doesn’t relate to a significant data loss.
Prudential has been served with a monetary penalty of £50,000 following the incident, which resulted in a serious breach of the Data Protection Act. The original error was caused when the records of both customers, who share the same first name, surname & DoB, were mistakenly merged in March 2007.
MoD: With less than 50 days to go until Christmas the Ministry of Defence is urging the public to consider Service charities as an alternative way of showing their support, rather than sending unsolicited parcels to personnel serving abroad.
OFT: The Office of Fair Trading is warning consumers who wish to access government services to check whether they are visiting the official government website or the website of a business charging for processing services.
Searching on the internet for government services (such as applying for an EHIC card) can bring up websites for businesses which offer to check, review & forward applications for a fee. Advertisements for these businesses may feature prominently in search results. Many government services can be accessed online and can usually be obtained directly from the government at little or no cost.
NHS Confed: The NHS Confederation, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and National Voices have recently come together to carry out a joint project on the reconfiguration of healthcare.
There is a growing consensus that ‘change is needed to take advantage of modern healthcare techniques, meet the needs of an older population, and enable the NHS to live within its means’. The organisations plan to jointly publish the final report at the NHS Confederation annual conference & exhibition in June 2013.
There is a growing consensus that ‘change is needed to take advantage of modern healthcare techniques, meet the needs of an older population, and enable the NHS to live within its means’. The organisations plan to jointly publish the final report at the NHS Confederation annual conference & exhibition in June 2013.
10DS: Microsoft has launched ‘Get On’, a new programme offering young people in the UK the skills and inspiration they need to succeed in getting that all important first job. It aims to help 300,000 16-24 year olds take meaningful steps toward work and the start of a career over the next 3 years, through a combination of education & training, apprenticeships and work experience.
NE: Natural England has teamed up with Butterfly Conservation and the farming community across the country to help save some of our most threatened butterflies. Farmland is an important habitat for butterflies and a new project The Farmland Butterfly Initiative (FBI), aims to support farmers in managing their land to help 7 of the country’s most endangered butterflies.
PCS: The PCS union has said that; ‘A halt to any further prison sell-offs and an independent review are urgently required’, as the government announces that 4 more prisons will be handed to private companies. Of the 8 institutions under consideration, Northumberland, and Moorland, Hatfield and Lindholme near Doncaster are to be privatised, while Coldingley, Durham and Onley will remain in the public sector.
The union remains concerned about the future of public prisons, as justice minister Chris Grayling has made clear further privatisation was likely and non-custodial functions could be outsourced.
TUC: TUC General Secretary Designate, Frances O'Grady, has commented on a Consumer Focus report Jobs, growth and warmer homes published last week, which says that the best way to boost growth & create jobs in the UK is to make the homes of low-income households more energy efficient.
The report claims that significant energy efficiency infrastructure investment paid for by recycled carbon taxes would generate up to 71,000 jobs and boost GDP by 0.2% by 2015. According to the report it would also create up to 130,000 jobs by 2027, lift up to 9 out of 10 households out of fuel poverty, and reduce energy bills in all 'fuel-poor' homes by at least £200 per year.
TfL: Transport for London (TfL) and London boroughs have awarded 4 new area-based joint highways contracts that could save up to £450m during the next 8 years, helping to drive through more than £2bn of investment in road infrastructure.
OFT: The OFT has referred the completed acquisition by Booker Group plc (Booker) of Makro Holding Limited (Makro) to the Competition Commission for further investigation due to concerns that it could reduce competition between cash and carry outlets.
WAG: The centenary of the birth of iconic Welsh poet Dylan Thomas will be celebrated with a year of events across Wales and the world, Business & Tourism Minister Edwina Hart has announced. ‘Dylan Thomas 100’ will be a year-long festival and line-up of events including theatre performances, visual arts, comedy, television, film and exhibitions, to be held across Wales & beyond, to celebrate the life & work of the poet, thanks to funding from the Welsh Government and other partners.
FSA: Asda is withdrawing one date code of its own brand Extra Special Syrup Sponge Puddings because soya is not mentioned on the packaging. If you are allergic or sensitive to soya, do not eat this product. The Food Standards Agency has issued an Allergy Alert..
